Method and system for optimizing selection of a network. The method includes identifying available lenders and existing networks within a vicinity of a borrower, selecting an optimization technique for completing a task of the borrower, calculating, for a plurality of network options, a value for completing the borrower's task according to the optimization technique, and selecting an optimum network option to complete the borrower's task. The plurality of network options includes forming a heterogeneous network composed of both a peer-to-peer network and a multiplexed network.
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1. A method, comprising: identifying available lenders and existing networks within a vicinity of a borrower; selecting an optimization technique for completing a task of the borrower; calculating, for a plurality of network options, a value for completing the borrower's task according to the optimization technique; and selecting an optimum network option to complete the borrower's task, wherein the plurality of network options includes forming a heterogeneous network composed of both a peer-to-peer network and a multiplexed network, wherein the borrower's task comprises one of an upload and a download of the at least one file, and further comprising dividing the at least one file into parts and distributing the parts among the lenders of the selected optimum network option for the one of uploading or downloading, and reassembling the parts of the at least one file after the one of the upload and the download; and identifying the borrower as a new borrower; wherein, when the new borrower selects minimizing time as the optimization technique, the method further comprises selecting a number of the available lenders for the calculating, which comprises calculating an amount of time for each network option to complete the borrower's task; and wherein, for the heterogeneous network, the method further comprises: ranking the number of available lenders according to their available bandwidth; based on the ranking, assigning lower bandwidth available lenders of the number of available lenders to a multiplexer in a multiplexed bandwidth sharing ad hoc network; and based on the ranking, assigning the remaining available lenders of the number of available lenders to form a peer-to-peer bandwidth sharing ad hoc network.
A method for optimizing network selection for a borrower needing to upload or download a file. It involves finding available lenders (devices offering bandwidth) and existing networks (peer-to-peer or multiplexed) near the borrower. It then selects an optimization technique (e.g., fastest time). For each network option (including a mixed peer-to-peer and multiplexed network), it calculates a value based on the optimization technique, determining which network best completes the borrower's task. The file is divided into parts, distributed among lenders in the chosen network for upload or download, and reassembled afterward. If the borrower is new and chooses to minimize time, the method ranks lenders by bandwidth, assigning lower bandwidth lenders to a multiplexer and higher bandwidth lenders to a peer-to-peer network.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein optimization technique comprises at least one of fastest time for completion of task, least expensive completion of task, minimizing risk of drop-offs, and maximizing lender capabilities.
The network optimization method described previously selects an optimization technique based on factors such as fastest time for task completion, least expensive completion of task, minimizing the risk of connection drop-offs during the task, and maximizing the utilization of the lender's network capabilities, enabling the system to prioritize different aspects of the network connection according to the borrower's needs.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of network options further includes joining an existing multiplexed network, joining an existing peer-to-peer network, forming a new multiplexed network, and forming a new peer-to-peer network.
In the network optimization method described previously, the network options available to the borrower include not only creating a heterogeneous network, but also joining an existing multiplexed network, joining an existing peer-to-peer network, forming a new multiplexed network, and forming a new peer-to-peer network. The system evaluates these additional options alongside the heterogeneous network to find the optimal solution.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the new borrower is not currently part of an existing network.
In the network optimization method described previously, the method specifically identifies the borrower as being a new borrower that is not currently a member of any existing network. This distinction allows the system to potentially prioritize or treat new borrowers differently than existing members of a network.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network options further include joining an existing multiplexed network, joining an existing peer-to-peer network, forming a new multiplexed network, and forming a new peer-to-peer network, and the calculated amount of time includes a wait time for the existing networks to complete existing tasks.
In the network optimization method described previously, where the network options include joining existing networks (multiplexed or peer-to-peer) and forming new networks (multiplexed or peer-to-peer), the calculation of the time required to complete the borrower's task also includes an assessment of the wait time involved for existing networks to finish their current tasks before being able to allocate resources to the new borrower's task.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising: comparing each of the calculated amounts of time; and identifying the optimum network option for selection.
Using the previous description where the method calculates the task completion time, including wait times for the networks, the method further compares the calculated times for each of the network options to determine the most efficient route, before identifying and selecting the optimum network option to complete the task, based on this comparison.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein, when the new borrower selects minimizing cost as the optimization technique, the method further comprises selecting a number of the available lenders for the calculating, which comprises calculating an amount of money for each network option to complete the borrower's task.
In the network optimization method described previously, when the borrower selects minimizing cost as the optimization technique, the method selects a number of available lenders and calculates the amount of money required for each network option to complete the borrower's task. This cost calculation is then used to determine the optimal network option based on the borrower's preference for minimizing expense.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the network options further include joining an existing multiplexed network, joining an existing peer-to-peer network, forming a new multiplexed network, and forming a new peer-to-peer network, and the method further comprises comparing each of the calculated amounts of cost and identifying the optimum network option for selection.
Using the previous description where the method calculates the amount of money required for the network options, and where the network options include joining or forming new multiplexed and peer-to-peer networks, the method further compares each of the calculated costs for each network option and identifies the optimum network for selection, based on the calculated costs.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: one of forming and joining the selected optimum network option; performing the borrower's task; and monitoring performance of the selected network option.
Following the selection of the optimum network using the method previously described, the method includes the actions of either forming a new network or joining the selected network, performing the borrower's file upload/download task, and then monitoring the performance of the selected network option during the task.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the monitoring of performance of the selected optimum network option comprises determining whether a diminution in performance related to the optimization technique has occurred in the borrower's selection of the optimum network option.
In the previous method, monitoring the performance of the selected network involves determining whether a decrease in performance, relevant to the optimization technique (e.g. speed, cost), has occurred relative to what was expected when the optimum network option was initially selected by the borrower. This ensures the network continues to meet expectations.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the borrower predefines a percentage value related to an acceptable diminution in performance of the selected optimum network option from that expected when the optimum network option was selected.
In the previous monitoring method, the borrower predefines a percentage value that represents an acceptable level of reduction or decrease in performance of the selected network option, compared to the performance that was expected when the network option was initially selected. This threshold is then used to assess network suitability.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein, when the diminution in performance exceeds the predefined percentage value, the method further comprises: determining how much of the task remains to be completed; determining, for the plurality of network options, a value for completing the remaining task according to the optimization technique; and selecting a new optimum network option to complete the remaining task.
Using the previous method, if the decline in performance exceeds the predefined percentage value, the method further determines the amount of the borrower's task (file upload/download) that remains to be completed. It then recalculates a value for completing the remaining part of the task, using each available network option, and selects a new network option that is deemed the most suitable to finish the remaining task.
13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying the borrower as an existing borrower.
The method further comprises identifying the borrower as an *existing* borrower. This contrasts with the earlier claims relating to *new* borrowers, and enables the method to apply different logic or processing based on whether the borrower is already known to the system or network.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the existing borrower is currently part of an existing network.
The network optimization method from the previous description identifies the *existing* borrower as being currently part of an existing network. This distinguishes the borrower from a new borrower who is not part of any network, and facilitates the process of optimizing network selection for those borrowers already connected to an existing network.
15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising: monitoring performance of the selected optimum network option.
Following the selection of the optimum network for the *existing* borrower described in the previous claims, the method also includes monitoring the performance of the selected network during the execution of the borrower's file upload or download task.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the monitoring of performance of the selected optimum network option comprises determining whether a diminution in performance related to the optimization technique has occurred in the borrower's selection of the optimum network option.
In the previous monitoring method, monitoring the performance of the selected network involves determining whether a decrease in performance related to the optimization technique (e.g., speed, cost) has occurred relative to what was expected when the optimum network option was initially selected *for an existing user*.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the borrower predefines a percentage value related to an acceptable diminution in performance of the selected optimum network option from that expected when the optimum network option was selected.
In the performance monitoring method for *existing* borrowers, the borrower predefines a percentage value that represents an acceptable reduction in performance of the selected network option from what was initially expected when the network option was first selected. This threshold indicates acceptable degradation before a new optimal network is considered.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein, when the diminution in performance exceeds the predefined percentage value, the method further comprises: determining how much of the task remains to be completed; determining, for the plurality of network options, a value for completing the remaining task according to the optimization technique; and selecting a new optimum network option to complete the remaining task.
Referring to the previous method, when the decrease in network performance exceeds the predefined percentage value for an *existing* borrower, the method calculates the remaining portion of the task to be completed. It then determines a new value for each of the available network options to complete this remaining task, and then chooses a new optimum network to complete the remainder of the task.
19. The method of claim 3 , further comprising: one of forming and joining the selected new optimum network option; and completing the remaining task.
Based on the method of network selection, the method either forms the selected new optimum network option if required, or joins the network, and then proceeds to complete the remaining portion of the task – upload or download the file for the borrower.
20. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying, the selecting an optimization technique, the calculating, and the selecting an optimum network are provided by a service provider on a fee and/or subscription basis.
The identification of lenders and networks, selection of an optimization technique, calculation of network values, and selection of the optimum network, as performed in the network selection method, is provided by a service provider. This service is offered to users on a fee-based or subscription-based model, implying a commercial or paid service for network optimization.
21. The method of claim 1 , wherein a service provider at least one of creates, deploys, maintains, supports an infrastructure for implementing the identifying, the selecting an optimization technique, the calculating, and the selecting an optimum network.
A service provider actively participates by creating, deploying, maintaining, and supporting the necessary infrastructure to implement the functions of identifying lenders and networks, selecting an optimization technique, calculating network values, and selecting the optimum network for a given user. This implies a fully managed service.
22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the identifying, the selecting an optimization technique, the calculating, and the selecting an optimum network are performed in a suitable architecture as part of an ad hoc mobile network.
The processes of identifying lenders and networks, selecting an optimization technique, calculating network values, and selecting an optimum network are all performed within a suitable architecture specifically designed for use within an ad hoc mobile network. This implies an architecture designed for decentralized, temporary network environments.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
May 31, 2007
August 27, 2013
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